Kier has been appointed by NHS Lothian as Principal Supply Chain Partner to deliver the first phase of the new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh.
The signing of a Pre‑Construction Services Agreement will see Kier lead early design and pre‑construction activity for a state-of-the-art new facility, which will serve adults and children across south‑east Scotland and form part of the Edinburgh BioQuarter campus.
Kier has been working on vital healthcare design and construction for over three decades and this appointment adds to its growing healthcare portfolio. Since January 2024, the Group has delivered 25 healthcare projects with a combined value of over £445m and is currently constructing the new Sunderland Eye Infirmary as well as leading the recent delivery of the ophthalmology centre at NHS Golden Jubilee in Clydebank, and a £150m project at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital to provide new clinical buildings and facilities for maternity, neonatology, critical care, and theatre services.
Kier’s long‑term healthcare pipeline continues to strengthen following its recent appointment to the NHS’s £37bn Hospital 2.0 Alliance Framework, supporting the future design and delivery of new hospitals and clinical facilities across the UK.
Replacing the current eye pavilion, the new building will be re-located closer to the main hospital campus. It is located next to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health and Edinburgh University clinical research facilities, and will form a key part of the world-class Edinburgh BioQuarter.
Sean Fenner, managing director, Kier Construction North & Scotland, said:
We are proud to be the Principal Supply Chain Partner for NHS Lothian to deliver early construction works at the new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion - a new Centre of Excellence that will transform eye care for patients across the region. Our team brings unrivalled expertise, shaped by landmark projects such as the NHS Golden Jubilee Eye Hospital and Sunderland Eye Infirmary, and informed by best practice from leading ophthalmic centres in the UK and internationally. Working in partnership with NHS Lothian, we will create an environment that enhances patient experience, empowers staff and establishes a new standard of excellence in ophthalmic care across Scotland.
Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Lothian, said:
We are pleased to appoint Kier as our Principal Supply Chain Partner and take the next step in the process towards opening a new eye hospital in Lothian. We are delighted that the hospital is becoming a reality and that makes this milestone even more exciting. I would like to thank our teams for their commitment and endurance throughout the planning of this project - I know this step will mean a great deal to them. Our teams in the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion have a world-class reputation for their innovation, treatment, patient safety and care, but the building no longer supports them or the thousands of surgical, inpatients and outpatients who attend each year. This new state-of-the-art facility will allow our magnificent teams to continue providing the exceptional patient care and treatment they are renowned for.